Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

Kevin and April Redford
Canonsburg, Pa

Pennsylvania requires radon professionals to be licensed, certified, and registered. Alpha Detection and Control is both certified and qualified to help you, and we’re registered with the state.

Radon Mitigation

There are several methods that a contractor can use to lower radon levels in your home. Some techniques prevent radon from entering your home while others reduce radon levels after it has entered. EPA generally recommends methods which prevent the entry of radon. Soil suction, for example, prevents radon from entering your home by drawing the radon from below the house and venting it through a pipe, or pipes, to the air above the house where it is quickly diluted.

radon reduction techniquesAny information that you may have about the construction of your house could help your contractor choose the best system. Your contractor will perform a visual inspection of your house and design a system that considers specific features of your house. If this inspection fails to provide enough information, the contractor will need to perform diagnostic tests during the initial phase of the installation to help develop the best radon reduction system for your home. For instance, your contractor can use chemical smoke to find the source and direction of air movement. A contractor can learn air flow sources and directions by watching a small amount of smoke that he or she shot into holes, drains, sumps, or along cracks. The sources of air flow show possible radon routes. A contractor may have concerns about backdrafting of combustion appliances when considering radon mitigation options, and may recommend that the homeowner have the appliance(s) checked by a qualified inspector.

Another type of diagnostic test is a “soil communication test.” This test uses a vacuum cleaner and chemical smoke to determine how easily air can move from one point to another under the foundation. By inserting a vacuum cleaner hose in one small hole and using chemical smoke in a second small hole, a contractor can see if the smoke is pulled down into the second hole by the force of the vacuum cleaner’s suction. Watching the smoke during a soil communication test helps a contractor decide if certain radon reduction systems would work well in your house.

Whether diagnostic tests are needed is decided by details specific to your house, such as the foundation design, what kind of material is under your house, and by the contractor’s experience with similar houses and similar radon test results.

We are a professional Radon Mitigation and Testing company! Contact Alpha Detection and Control Today so we can come out to test your home or install a high quality Radon Remediation System.

We provide home & commercial Radon Mitigation and testing throughout Metro Pittsburgh Pa, Washington County, Beaver County, Westmoreland County, Greene County, Butler County, Fayette County, and Allegheny County in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Licensed Radon Mitigation Contractor serving Pittsburgh, Westmoreland County, Allegheny County, Butler, Washington, Fayette, Somerset counties, also these cities and more; Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Monroeville, Latrobe, Irwin, Jeannette, Youngwood, New Stanton, Forest Hills, Hartwood Acres, Donegal, New Kensington, Springdale, Ligonier, Plum, Mt Lebanon, Dormont, Bethel Park, Whitehall, Munhall, Whitehall, Castle Shannon, Mcmurray, Carnegie, Bridgeville, Brentwood, Baldwin, Ligonier, Scottdale, Mt. Pleasant, Harrison City, Crabtree, Claridge, Acme, Blairsville, West Newton, White Oak, New Alexandria, North Huntingdon, North Versailles, Derry, Murrysville, Monroeville, delmont, Delmont, Trafford, Penn Trafford, Hempfield Township, Bullskin Township Champion, Seven Springs, Uniontown, Connellsville, and throughout the Pittsburgh Area; cranberry, Allison Park, Glenshaw, Hampton, Apollo, Aspinwall, Blawnox, Bloomfield, Braddock, Cheswick, Churchill, Duquesne, Edgewood, Etna, Export, Fox Chapel, Garfield, Glassport, Glenwood, Highland Park, Indiana township, Lawrenceville, Canonsburg, Leechburg, Lower Burrell, Millvale, Mt. Washington, North Hills, Peters Township, Houston, Oakmont, Penn Hills, Penn, Plum, Salem Township, Troy Hill, Shadyside, Shaler, Sharpsburg, South Side, Springdale, Squirrel Hill, Swissvale, Tarentum, Brackenridge, Turtle Creek, Peters Township, Vandergrift, Verona, Penn Hills, Wexford, Ingomar, Wexford, Washington, Franklin Park, Emsworth, Bellevue, Heidelberg, Sutersville, Finleyville, Donora, Pleasant Hills, Wilmerding, home inspections are performed in all of these areas listed, including many other areas surrounding Pittsburgh. We also install Radon Mitigation Systems in West Virginia serving Fairmont, Morgantown and Monongalia County.

724-887-6227 (Office)
800-705-8417 (Toll Free)

Thank you very much!

PS. Great Looking radon system

Sincerely,

David And Melissa Collins,
Somerset Pa

Radon is a cancer-causing natural radioactive gas that you can’t see, smell or taste. Its presence in your home can pose a danger to your family’s health. Radon, nationwide (and in the Pittsburgh area), is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America and claims about 20,000 lives annually. The only way to know if your home has a high Radon Gas level, is to get a test.

If your home has an elevated level of Radon, there is a solution! Fixing a home with a high radon level is typically referred to as “radon mitigation”.

Radon mitigation is any activity taken, and any materials or equipment installed, to reduce the levels of radon gas in a building. Radon gas can enter a home or building through cracks in the basement floor and walls, drains, sumps and drain tiles, crawl spaces, porous blocks and exposed soil. The air pressure in a building is generally lower than the pressure in soil, thereby allowing for radon to flow into the structure.

Radon reduction techniques may consist of measures to prevent the entry of radon gas into a building, as well as venting of radon gas before it enters a building.

We are a professional Radon Mitigation and Testing company! Contact Alpha Detection and Control Today so we can come out to test your home or install a high quality Radon Remediation System.

We provide home & commercial Radon Mitigation and testing throughout Metro Pittsburgh Pa, Washington County, Beaver County, Westmoreland County, Greene County, Butler County, Fayette County, and Allegheny County in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Licensed Radon Mitigation Contractor serving Pittsburgh, Westmoreland County, Allegheny County, Butler, Washington, Fayette, Somerset counties, also these cities and more; Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Monroeville, Latrobe, Irwin, Jeannette, Youngwood, New Stanton, Forest Hills, Hartwood Acres, Donegal, New Kensington, Springdale, Ligonier, Plum, Mt Lebanon, Dormont, Bethel Park, Whitehall, Munhall, Whitehall, Castle Shannon, Mcmurray, Carnegie, Bridgeville, Brentwood, Baldwin, Ligonier, Scottdale, Mt. Pleasant, Harrison City, Crabtree, Claridge, Acme, Blairsville, West Newton, White Oak, New Alexandria, North Huntingdon, North Versailles, Derry, Murrysville, Monroeville, delmont, Delmont, Trafford, Penn Trafford, Hempfield Township, Bullskin Township Champion, Seven Springs, Uniontown, Connellsville, and throughout the Pittsburgh Area; cranberry, Allison Park, Glenshaw, Hampton, Apollo, Aspinwall, Blawnox, Bloomfield, Braddock, Cheswick, Churchill, Duquesne, Edgewood, Etna, Export, Fox Chapel, Garfield, Glassport, Glenwood, Highland Park, Indiana township, Lawrenceville, Canonsburg, Leechburg, Lower Burrell, Millvale, Mt. Washington, North Hills, Peters Township, Houston, Oakmont, Penn Hills, Penn, Plum, Salem Township, Troy Hill, Shadyside, Shaler, Sharpsburg, South Side, Springdale, Squirrel Hill, Swissvale, Tarentum, Brackenridge, Turtle Creek, Peters Township, Vandergrift, Verona, Penn Hills, Wexford, Ingomar, Wexford, Washington, Franklin Park, Emsworth, Bellevue, Heidelberg, Sutersville, Finleyville, Donora, Pleasant Hills, Wilmerding, home inspections are performed in all of these areas listed, including many other areas surrounding Pittsburgh.  We also install Radon Mitigation Systems in West Virginia serving Fairmont, Morgantown and Monongalia County.

724-887-6227 (Office)
800-705-8417 (Toll Free)

Dr. Carmona also stressed the need to remedy the problem as soon as possible when the radon level is 4 pCi/L or more. Dr. Carmona noted that more than 20,000 Americans die of radon-related lung cancer each year.

Read the Surgeon General’s News Release

It is possible for any granite sample to contain varying concentrations of uranium and other naturally occurring radioactive elements. These elements can emit radiation and produce radon gas, a source of alpha and beta particles and gamma rays. Some granite used for counter-tops may contribute variably to indoor radon levels. Some types of granite may emit gamma radiation above typical background levels. However, at this time EPA believes that the existing data is insufficient to conclude that the types of granite commonly used in counter-tops are significantly increasing indoor radon levels. While radiation levels are not typically high, measurement of specific samples may reveal higher than expected levels on a case-by-case basis. Granite is a naturally occurring igneous rock, meaning that it was formed by the cooling of molten rock. It is quarried and processed to produce commercial products such as countertops.

What advice does the EPA have about radon for consumers who have granite countertops?

EPA believes the principal source of radon in homes is from the soil in contact with basement floors and walls. To reduce the radon risk you should first test the air in your home to determine the radon level. There are many do-it-yourself radon test kits available through retail outlets and on-line, starting at about $25. While natural rocks such as granite may emit radiation and radon gas, the levels attributable to such sources are not typically high.

If your home has a radon level of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air or more, you should take steps to fix your home and reduce the radon level. Contact your state radon office (www.epa.gov/radon/whereyoulive.html) for assistance. Hire a qualified radon professional (www.epa.gov/radon/radontest.html) to fix or mitigate your home. The key to reducing your risk of lung cancer from radon is to test your home and mitigate when necessary. A specially-trained and qualified radiation professional may be equipped to test for other radon sources (such as granite or diffusion from drinking water) when diagnosing the nature and source of your home’s radon problem.

Learn more about radon, visit www.epa.gov/radon or read A Citizen’s Guide to Radon at www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html.

Can I test my granite countertops for radiation or radon?

At this time, a generally accepted radiation testing protocol for countertops does not exist, and neither imported nor domestic granite products require radiation testing.

Radiation concentrations can only be measured using sophisticated portable instruments, or with laboratory equipment. These instruments and equipment require a knowledgeable and trained user and proper instrument calibration. For information about local radiation experts, the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD) maintains a web page where you can find contact information for each state’s radiation protection program. Please visit their web page, http://www.crcpd.org/Map/map.asp , to find information for your state.

Although not specifically designed or intended for measuring radon emissions from countertops, do-it-yourself test kits are available through retail outlets and on-line, starting at about $25. If you are concerned about the radon level in your home, purchase a test kit and use as instructed. To learn more, visit www.epa.gov/radon or read A Citizen’s Guide to radon at www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html.

Are the levels of radon gas and radiation emissions from granite countertops dangerous to humans or animals?

While radon gas and radiation emission levels attributable to granite are not typically high, there are simply too many variables to generalize about the potential health risks inside a particular home that has granite countertops. It is prudent to limit your family’s exposure to radon whenever possible. Commonly employed mitigation techniques can reduce the radon level coming from soil beneath your home to 2 pCi/L or less in most homes. At EPA’s action level of 4 pCi/L, a smoker’s risk of lung cancer is about five times the risk of dying in an auto accident, and if you’ve never smoked equal to the risk of dying in an auto accident. The U.S. Surgeon General and EPA strongly recommend that all homes be tested for radon.

Has EPA done studies on radon gas and radiation emissions from granite countertops?

We are aware of a few studies that have conducted limited research on radon in granite countertops. EPA will continue to review this research. However, there are many studies proving the link between radon in indoor air and lung cancer, including EPA’s 2003 risk assessment - www.epa.gov/radon/risk_assessment.html

Does the EPA have plans to conduct a study of granite countertops?

EPA will continue to monitor and analyze the evolving research on radiation and granite countertops and will update its recommendations as appropriate. There are currently no regulations concerning granite countertops radon gas or radiation emissions.

James and Claire Winston, Greensburg Pa

The report, in general, confirms earlier EPA scientific conclusions and analyses for drinking water, and presents no major changes to EPA’s 1994 risk assessment.

The Office of Ground Water Drinking Water has posted the press release of “Risk Assessment of Radon in Drinking Water”. There is also a link to NAS’s Executive Summary on the report (with initial EPA perspectives) at: www.epa.gov/OGWDW/radon/nas.html.

For general information on radon in drinking water, contact the Safe Drinking Water Hotline, at (800) 426-4791. The Safe Drinking Water Hotline is open Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

If you are interested in finding a qualified radon service professional to test or mitigate your home, give us a call!

We are a professional radon mitigation and control company! Contact Alpha Detection and Control so we can come out to analyze your home and/or test your home.

724-887-6227 (Office)
800-705-8417 (Toll Free)

These two studies go a step beyond earlier findings. They confirm the radon health risks predicted by occupational studies of underground miner’s who breathed radon for a period of years. Early in the debate about radon-related risks, some researchers questioned whether occupational studies could be used to calculate risks from exposure to radon in the home environment.

“These findings effectively end any doubts about the risks to Americans of having radon in their homes,” said Tom Kelly, Director of EPA’s Indoor Environments Division. “We know that radon is a carcinogen. This research confirms that breathing low levels of radon can lead to lung cancer.”

• Read the University of Iowa press release about the North American study at www.uihealthcare.com/news/news/2005/03/21radon.html
• Abstract of the pooling of North American Residential Radon studies
• Abstract of the pooling of the European Residential Radon studies

Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. Smoking causes an estimated 160,000* cancer deaths in the U.S. every year (American Cancer Society, 2004). And the rate among women is rising. On January 11, 1964, Dr. Luther L. Terry, then U.S. Surgeon General, issued the first warning on the link between smoking and lung cancer. Lung cancer now surpasses breast cancer as the number one cause of death among women. A smoker who is also exposed to radon has a much higher risk of lung cancer.

Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to EPA estimates. Overall, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. About 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked. On January 13, 2005, Dr. Richard H. Carmona, the U.S. Surgeon General, issued a national health advisory on radon. Visit www.cheec.uiowa.edu/misc/radon.html exiting EPA for more on a study by Dr. William Field on radon-related lung cancer in women.

Secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of lung cancer and responsible for an estimated 3,000 lung cancer deaths every year. Smoking affects non-smokers by exposing them to secondhand smoke. Exposure to secondhand smoke can have serious consequences for children’s health, including asthma attacks, affecting the respiratory tract (bronchitis, pneumonia), and may cause ear infections.

Learning more about lung cancer. The following sources provide a wide range of good information about lung cancer, prevention, and treatment.

• American Cancer Society — www.cancer.org exiting EPA
• American Lung Association — www.lungusa.org exiting EPA
• National Cancer Institute — www.nci.nih.gov/ exiting EPA
• Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center — www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/vicc exiting EPA
• Memorial Sloan-Kettering — www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/44.cfm exiting EPA

Studies Find Direct Evidence Linking Radon in Homes to Lung Cancer - Two studies show definitive evidence of an association between residential radon exposure and lung cancer. Two studies, a North American study and a European study, both combined data from several previous residential studies. These two studies go a step beyond earlier findings. They confirm the radon health risks predicted by occupational studies of underground miner’s who breathed radon for a period of years. Early in the debate about radon-related risks, some researchers questioned whether occupational studies could be used to calculate risks from exposure to radon in the home environment. “These findings effectively end any doubts about the risks to Americans of having radon in their homes,” said Tom Kelly, Director of EPA’s Indoor Environments Division. “We know that radon is a carcinogen. This research confirms that breathing low levels of radon can lead to lung cancer.”

Why is radon the public health risk that it is?

“”EPA estimates that about 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S. are radon-related. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Radon is an odorless, tasteless and invisible gas produced by the decay of naturally occurring uranium in soil and water. Radon is a form of ionizing radiation and a proven carcinogen. Lung cancer is the only known effect on human health from exposure to radon in air. Thus far, there is no evidence that children are at greater risk of lung cancer than are adults.

Radon in air is ubiquitous. Radon is found in outdoor air and in the indoor air of buildings of all kinds. EPA recommends homes be fixed if the radon level is 4 pCi/L (pico Curies per Liter) or more. Because there is no known safe level of exposure to radon, EPA also recommends that Americans consider fixing their home for radon levels between 2 pCi/L and 4 pCi/L. The average radon concentration in the indoor air of America’s homes is about 1.3 pCi/L. It is upon this level that EPA based its estimate of 20,000 radon-related lung cancers a year upon. It is for this simple reason that EPA recommends that Americans consider fixing their homes when the radon level is between 2 pCi/L and 4 pCi/L. The average concentration of radon in outdoor air is .4 pCi/L or 1/10th of EPA’s 4 pCi/L action level.

For smokers the risk of lung cancer is significant due to the synergistic effects of radon and smoking. For this population about 62 people in a 1,000 will die of lung-cancer, compared to 7.3 people in a 1,000 for never smokers. Put another way, a person who never smoked (never smoker) who is exposed to 1.3 pCi/L has a 2 in 1,000 chance of lung cancer; while a smoker has a 20 in 1,000 chance of dying from lung cancer. Figure A compares the risks between smokers and never smokers; smokers are at a much higher risk than never smokers, e.g., at 8 pCi/L the risk to smokers is six times the risk to never smokers.

The radon health risk is underscored by the fact that in 1988 Congress added Title III on Indoor Radon Abatement to the Toxic Substances Control Act. It codified and funded EPA’s then fledgling radon program. Also that year, the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General issued a warning about radon urging Americans to test their homes and to reduce the radon level when necessary (U.S. Surgeon General).

Unfortunately, many Americans presume that because the action level is 4 pCi/L, a radon level of less than 4 pCi/L is ‘safe’. This perception is altogether too common in the residential real estate market. In managing any risk, we should be concerned with the greatest risk. For most Americans, their greatest exposure to radon is in their homes; especially in rooms that are below grade (e.g., basements), rooms that are in contact with the ground and those rooms immediately above them.

It’s never too late to reduce your risk of lung cancer. Don’t wait to test and fix a radon problem. If you are a smoker, stop smoking. Consider quitting. Until you can quit, smoke outside and provide your family with a smoke-free home).